Device for the preliminary forming of cigar-bunches.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

G. J. PRBNTICE. DEVICE FOR THE PRELIMINARY FORMING OP CIGAR BUNGHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16., 1904.

GEORGE J. PRENTICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR THE PRELIMINARY FORMING OF ClGAR-BUNCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented April 24, 1906.

Application filed ay 16,1904. Serial No- 208,169.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. PRENTICE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York,have invented an Improved Device for the Preliminary Rolling or Forming of Cigar-Bunches, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

Heretofore in the manufacture of cigars the filler has been shaped by hand and laid in the binder and the binder rolled around the filler complete, thus making the bunch in substantially one continuous operation and forming the same with tapering ends. The addition of the wrapper completes the cigar. As so made the filler is under tension, the parts being pressed tightly together with substantially few, if any, interstices or intercel lular spaces between the parts of the filler,

and in smoking the cigar for this reason does not draw readily nor anything like as well as if the filler was looser with more spaces between the parts thereof.

The object of my invention is to make it possible by the devices employed to not only shape the filler and apply pressure thereto, but to complete the bunch so that there are spaces between the parts of the filler which will make it possible for the cigar to draw well in smoking.

In carrying out my invention an operator shapes the filler by hand from the smaller leaves of tobacco, making the same thickest centrally and tapering toward the ends. He then lays this filler in the binder while the binder is lying upon an apron of flexible material, preferably of peculiar form. The binder and the filler are then pressed tightly by hand by means of the outer flexible material, and the parts are rolled sufiiciently for one complete turn of the binder around the filler. The construction of this flexible-material device is such that when one complete turn is made the parts can be ten'iporarily connected to leave the filler within the flexible material for an appreciable time to set and during which it is preferable to pass the flexible material and its filler and binder to the attendant who is to roll up the complete bunch. In his hands the fastening devices of the flexible material are disconnected and the flexible material raised, permitting the filler to slightly expand within the partially-rolled binder.

The workman who does the rolling then fin- .ishes the bunch by completely rolling the same up, shaping the tapering ends, and giving the proper curved outline to the bunch. The wrapper is then put on to complete the cigar.

In making ci ar-bunches by means of this device the partially-rolled binder under tension gives form to the filler and the release permits the same to expand while still in form to a sufliciently appreciable extent, so as to create more spaces between the particles of the filler. Consequently the bunch when finished is not rolled so tightly as is ordinarily the case; but it is just as accurate in form as one tightly rolled and more acceptable in smoking the finished cigar.

In the drawings I have illustrated my improved device, in which Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of forms of the invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section showing the filler under tension and compression and temporarily held by the connection of parts formed with the flexible-material device. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan at the line a 1 Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the parts shown in section, Fig. 3, as separated, so as to permit the expansion of the filler before the complete rolling up of the bunch, and Fig. 6 is an edge view of a still further form of modification of my invention.

a represents an apron or sheet of flexible material of any suitable character appreciably longer than wide and upon which is to be laid the leaf or tobacco binder 6.

(Z represents the filler of tobacco, preferably formed in the hand of the operator from short leaves manipulated so that the central portion is thicker than the respective ends. This is to be laid upon the binder 0 near one edge or end and near one end of the apron a.

I have shown and prefer to notch or gore the apron a at the sides and at one end-that is, the rolling endupon the lines a, so as to cause a fullness in the center and a contraction at either side, which in rolling up the filler and binder make it possible to roll the ends smaller than the central portion. Means are to be provided for holding one edge of the a non when a complete turn has been given to the binder 0 around the "filler d, as shown in Fig. 3, and these devices must possess the requisite amount of rigidity and at the same rolled and the edge turned over, the stud members are adapted to engage the socket members for temporarily holding the cigarfiller under tension. It is essential that a part of this apron be stiffened, and for this purpose I have shown a plate of metal 6. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the plate of metal e is along the edge and is connected to the edge not only by the stud mem hers I), but by rivets 2, while in the form of the invention, Fig. 2', the plate of metal is secured to the portion of the apron a, engaged by the socket members 6, these sockets memhers I) and rivets 3 serving as means to connect the plate to the apron, while at the edge there are the rivets and the stud members I). I do not limit myself to the location of the plate, to use of a plate at all, or to the use of only one plate.

I prefer the form of invention, Fig. 1, because therein there is rigidity of the flexible apron at the advancing edge and a yielding in the body of the apron, centrally in its length, and between the socket members to compensate at least in a measure for the increased thickness at the center of the filler, which vFvould not be so fully apparent in the form,

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 includes a plate 6 of suflicient width to be connected by rivets 4 to the edge of the flexible apron a, the stud members I) being connected to the ends of the plate 6 near the opposite edge from the rivets 4. This plate is shown asupon the outer surface of the flexible apron a, adapted to be engaged by the fingers to assist in rolling the apron and the filler.

In forming the bunch by this device the binder c or tobacco-leaf is laid upon the apron with one edge adjacent to the edge of the apron having the stud members. The filler is formed by the handof the operator in the usual manner and also as herein described, and is laid upon the binder. The edge of the apron is then grasped by the attendant and rolled to the extent of a single turn or convolution under considerable pressure, which carries the binder over the filler and forces the particles of the filler tightly together, and in this position the stud members and socket members are engaged for temporarily holding the filler under tension and compression for an appreciable period. Fig. 3' shows this position of, the parts. The filler as thus rolled preliminary to forming the complete hunch is passed from the hand of one operator to that of another, the latter one performing the function of completing the bunch. This operator disconnects the snap-fastening or other holding device, raises the edge of the apron into the position Fig. 5, allowing the filler to expand and in the expansion to create interstices or intercellular spaces between the parts of the said filler. This operator then with slight pressure, which does not return the parts to the previous extent of tension and compression and Without the aid of the apron and slightly by hand, rolls the binder around the filler, giving form and perfect shape to the bunch, and the after addition of the usual wrapper completes the cigar.

I claim as my invention 1. A device for the preliminary rolling or forming of cigar bunches, comprising an apron of flexible material and coacting engaging or fastening devices which are adapted to engage when the apron has been rolled to one complete turn of the cigar binder around the filler.

2. A device for the preliminary rolling or forming of cigar bunches, comprising an apron of flexible material, coacting engaging or fastening devices at the corners at one end and at predetermined places along the opposite edges which are adapted to engage when the apron has been rolled to one complete turn of the cigar-binder around the filler.

3. A device for the preliminary rolling or forming of cigar-bunches, comprising an apron of flexible material, coacting engaging or fastening devices at the corners at one end and at predetermined places along the opposite edges which are adapted to engage when the apron has been rolled to one complete turn of the cigar-binder around the filler, and a plate of metal secured to the said flexible apron with similar parts of said fastening devices in a line at right angles to the line of movement of said apron for stiffening the apron in rolling up the binder and filler, substantially as set forth.

4. A device for the preliminary rolling or forming of cigar bunches, comprising an apron of flexible material, with notches or gores at the sides and at one end, and coacting engaging or-fastening devices at the corners at one end and at predetermined places along the opposite edges which are adapted to engage when the apron has been rolled to one complete turn of the cigar-binder around the filler.

5. A device for the preliminary rolling or forming of cigar bunches, comprising an apron of flexible material, with notches or gores at the sides and at one end, and coacting engaging or fastening devices at the cor- IIO ners at one end and at predetermined places ing the apron in rolling up the binder and along the opposite edges which are adapted filler, substantially as set forth. I0 to engage when the apron has been rolled to Signed by me this 12th day of May, 1904.

one complete turn of the ci ar-binder around 3 the filler, and a plate of me tal secured to the GEORGE PRENTKJE' said flexible apron With similar parts of said Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINGKNEY,

fastening devices in a line at right angles to S. T. HAVILAND. H

the line of movement of said apron for stiffen- 

